Software · head to head
Splitwise vs Banktivity
The short version
- Only Splitwise has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Splitwise the free tier limits how many expenses can be added in a day and shows adverts; Banktivity runs on macOS, iPhone and iPad only, with no Windows, Android or web version
- They diverge on capability: Splitwise covers Bill splitting, Banktivity covers Account tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Splitwise and Banktivity actually diverge.
| Attribute | Splitwise | Banktivity |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | freemium | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, IOS, Android | Mac, IOS |
| Founded | 2011 | 2007 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Splitwise
- Bill splitting
- Expense tracking
- Group management
- Settlement tracking
- Venmo
- PayPal
- Web support
- Android support
Only in Banktivity
- Account tracking
- Bill management
- Investment tracking
- Budget forecasting
- Bank accounts
- Investment accounts
- Mac support
Both cover
- IOS support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Splitwise
- Splitting shared household bills between flatmatesnot Banktivity
- Tracking who owes what on a group tripnot Banktivity
- Settling up across currencies on the Pro plannot Banktivity
- Recording IOUs between friends over timenot Banktivity
Banktivity
- Personal budgeting and money management on a Macnot Splitwise
- Investment and net worth trackingnot Splitwise
- Retirement planning projectionsnot Splitwise
- Connecting to over 14,000 financial institutionsnot Splitwise
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Splitwise
- The free tier limits how many expenses can be added in a day and shows adverts
- Transaction import works in the United States only
- Currency conversion, receipt scanning, charts and expense search are all Pro features
- The Pro price is not shown on the product page
Banktivity
- Runs on macOS, iPhone and iPad only, with no Windows, Android or web version
- Pricing is not shown on the product page and sits behind a separate plans page
Pricing, plan by plan
Splitwise
Free- FreeFree
- Bill splitting
- Group tracking
- Mobile app
- Splitwise Pro$4.99/month
- Receipt scanning
- Advanced analytics
- No ads
Banktivity
On request- Monthly$4.99/month
- Full feature access
- Cloud sync
- Annual$39.99/month
- All monthly features
- Discounted rate
Which should you pick?
Choose Splitwise if
- You need bill splitting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want expense tracking.
Choose Banktivity if
- You need account tracking.
- You work on Mac, IOS.
- You also want bill management.
Questions people ask
- Is Splitwise or Banktivity better?
- Neither clearly leads. Splitwise starts at Free and Banktivity at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Splitwise or Banktivity?
- Splitwise has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Splitwise and On request for Banktivity.
- Does Splitwise or Banktivity run on more platforms?
- Splitwise runs on Web, IOS, Android. Banktivity runs on Mac, IOS.
- Can I use Splitwise for free?
- Yes. Splitwise has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Banktivity starts at On request.
- What is Splitwise best used for?
- Splitwise is most often used for splitting shared household bills between flatmates, tracking who owes what on a group trip, settling up across currencies on the pro plan, recording ious between friends over time. Of those, splitting shared household bills between flatmates and tracking who owes what on a group trip are not what Banktivity is typically brought in for.
- What can Splitwise do that Banktivity cannot?
- Splitwise covers Bill splitting, Expense tracking, Group management, Settlement tracking. Banktivity covers Account tracking, Bill management, Investment tracking, Budget forecasting. Both handle IOS support.